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US Army Demonstrates Its Short-Range Air Defense Capabilities with First Deployment of Avenger System in Africa.
On April 25, 2025, U.S. soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, part of the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, deployed the Avenger air defense system for the first time at the Ben Ghilouf Training Center in Tunisia as part of the multinational exercise African Lion 2025 (AL25). Mounted on an HMMWV vehicle and equipped with FIM-92 Stinger missiles, the Avenger was integrated into an intensive training scenario, marking the first appearance of this type of mobile air defense capability in North Africa.
Equipped with optical sensors, an infrared camera, an identification friend-or-foe (IFF) system, and linked to the FAAD C3I system, the Avenger benefits from semi-automated target acquisition through the "Slew-to-Cue" subsystem. (Picture source: US DoD)
This demonstration represents a deployment of the Avenger system on the African continent. Traditionally used in Europe and Asia, the Avenger had not previously been deployed during African Lion, which has become the premier military exercise in Africa. By combining the mobility of the HMMWV with the interception power of the Stinger missiles, the U.S. Army highlights the increasing strategic importance of short-range air defense in complex operational environments.
The Avenger AN/TWQ-1 system, developed by Boeing in the 1980s, is part of the U.S. Army’s advanced air defense architecture (Forward Area Air Defense - FAAD). It provides effective protection against cruise missiles, drones, light aircraft, and helicopters. Armed with eight ready-to-fire Stinger missiles and a 12.7 mm M3P machine gun for self-defense, the Avenger combines high mobility with firepower. Capable of firing on the move at speeds up to 35 km/h and reaching a maximum road speed of 105 km/h, it also has the ability to traverse difficult terrain.
Equipped with optical sensors, an infrared camera, an identification friend-or-foe (IFF) system, and linked to the FAAD C3I system, the Avenger benefits from semi-automated target acquisition through the "Slew-to-Cue" subsystem. Its modularity, integration into modern networks, and compatibility with multinational operations make it a key asset for tactical air defense, despite the absence of armor.
African Lion 2025 is part of a broader strategic shift. Organized by the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) on behalf of U.S. Africa Command, the exercise brings together over 40 nations, including seven NATO allies, with nearly 10,000 troops spread across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia, from April 14 to May 23, 2025. Its goal is to enhance allied interoperability in the face of regional and transcontinental threats within an increasingly complex multi-domain framework.
The Avengers’ presence at this exercise underscores the system’s adaptability to the new security challenges in Africa, particularly the proliferation of armed drones and low-altitude aerial threats. In this context, none of the African Lion 2025 host nations currently operates an equivalent system: Tunisia mainly uses the S-125 Pechora and some RBS-70 systems, while Morocco relies on Chinese (HQ-9) and Israeli (Barak MX) air defense solutions. Ghana and Senegal have limited air defense capabilities.
This situation further emphasizes the strategic significance of the U.S. demonstration. Through the deployment of the Avenger, the United States aims not only to show its capacity to counter emerging threats in austere environments but also to attract African partners by showcasing a proven, accessible system capable of addressing gaps in short-range air defense. This operation is part of a broader strategy to promote U.S. offerings in the face of growing international competition, particularly about Russian and Chinese ambitions in Africa.